WORLD OF INSECTS

Nature is a vast living environment shared by all living things. Insects, small yet remarkably diverse members of this environment, offer children an important opportunity to explore nature and the relationships among living organisms.

In the workshop, children learn about the basic characteristics, life cycles, feeding patterns and habitats of insects. Colorful visuals, models and hands-on activities are used to examine insects' roles in ecosystems and their relationships with soil and plants. Art and design activities enable children to create their own insect models, supporting creativity, observation skills and awareness of nature.

FUN SCIENCE

Many events we encounter in everyday life are related to physics, chemistry and biology. Connecting scientific concepts with daily experiences helps children understand the events around them, retain knowledge and develop scientific thinking skills.

The Fun Science Workshop aims to increase primary and middle school children's curiosity about science and mathematics and develop analytical, creative and inquiry-based thinking skills. Concepts from biology, chemistry and physics are explored through enjoyable experiments and activities in which children participate actively.

MINI KITCHEN WORKSHOP

The Mini Kitchen Workshop is a hands-on learning environment that supports children's creativity, problem-solving, communication and fine motor skills. The workshop aims to help children explore different ingredients through all five senses and develop awareness of healthy nutrition and hygiene.

Through activities introducing examples from different world cuisines, children experience various food-preparation processes. Activities held in the Istanbul Aydın University Gastronomy Workshop also use creative-thinking techniques such as SCAMPER to encourage children to develop their own recipes and products.

CREATIVE PRODUCT DESIGN WITH FELT

Every child has the potential to think creatively. Artistic activities provide opportunities for children to express themselves in original ways and use their imagination.

Felt is a traditional material produced by processing and combining wool fibers and has been used for different purposes throughout history. Today it continues to be used in the design of clothing, accessories and decorative products.

In this workshop, children learn about the properties and uses of felt and create their own original products through different design activities. The workshop aims to develop creativity, manual skills and aesthetic awareness.

JOURNEY TO THE SUBCONSCIOUS: MEDITATION

Meditation refers to a range of mental focusing practices that support directing attention to a particular point and becoming aware of thoughts and emotions.

Meditation activities for children use age-appropriate breathing, attention and awareness exercises. The workshop supports children in becoming aware of their bodies and emotions, focusing their attention, developing calming skills and getting to know themselves better.

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry is the branch of science that studies the structure, properties and composition of matter and the changes it undergoes. Many products and events encountered in everyday life are related to the field of chemistry.

In the Chemistry Workshop, students learn about the properties of substances, chemical changes, mixtures and basic chemistry concepts. Safe and age-appropriate activities involving everyday products such as perfume and polymers aim to develop students' observation, research and scientific thinking skills.

BRAIN AND HUMAN ANATOMY

Anatomy is the branch of science that studies the structure of living organisms and the relationships among their organs. Human anatomy focuses on the structure, organs and systems of the human body.

The first part of the workshop focuses on the main parts and functions of the brain; later activities examine the organs and systems of the human body through models, visuals and hands-on activities. The aim is to help students gain basic knowledge of how the human body works and support their scientific curiosity.

CINEMA AND TELEVISION

Cinema and television are important fields of communication and art that make it possible to tell stories through image and sound.

In this workshop, children learn the basic concepts of cinema, the filmmaking process, script development, filming techniques and the main elements of visual storytelling. By examining examples from the historical development of cinema to contemporary productions, children are supported in developing their own ideas and creating short films and visual storytelling projects.

AVIATION AND PILOTAGE TRAINING

The Aviation and Pilotage Workshop aims to support children's curiosity about aviation through scientific and hands-on activities.

In the workshop, children learn the basic principles of flight, air pressure, the main parts of aircraft, airspace and cockpit systems. Flight simulations and various experiments are used to make basic aviation concepts more concrete.

Activities involving parachutes, pressure, model aircraft, kites and other age-appropriate applications contribute to the development of children's scientific thinking, problem-solving and design skills.

MODERN DANCE

Dance is an important art form that supports children's physical, emotional and social development. Regular and age-appropriate dance activities contribute to the development of coordination, flexibility, body awareness, sense of rhythm and teamwork skills.

In the Modern Dance Workshop, children participate in creative movement activities as well as basic movement and rhythm exercises. The workshop aims to help children express themselves through movement while supporting self-confidence and creativity.

CODING AND ANIMATION

The Coding and Animation Workshop aims to help children see themselves not only as users of digital technologies but also as creators.

The workshop uses age-appropriate coding and digital content development tools, particularly Scratch. It aims to develop children's algorithmic thinking, problem-solving, visual design, animation and basic programming skills.

The activities also contribute to children's digital literacy and their ability to use technology for creative purposes.

RESEARCH AND INQUIRY

Research and inquiry are fundamental processes for accessing knowledge and developing critical thinking. Asking questions, evaluating different perspectives and questioning information are important for the development of scientific thinking.

In this workshop, students think about basic concepts and problems selected from science, mathematics and social sciences; formulate research questions; and express their views in discussion groups. The aim is to develop research, inquiry, reasoning and self-expression skills.

ROBOTICS

The Robotics Workshop is a hands-on learning environment that supports children's interest in science, technology and engineering.

Students learn about the basic parts, working principles and uses of robots and carry out activities related to building and programming simple robotic systems. The workshop aims to develop problem-solving, creative thinking, design and basic programming skills.

CREATIVE DRAMA

Play is one of children's natural ways of learning. Creative drama is an interactive learning method that uses play, role-play and improvisation in the educational process.

The Creative Drama Workshop supports children in getting to know themselves and their environment better and in developing empathy, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and creative thinking skills. Active participation helps make learning enjoyable and lasting.

MICROBIOLOGY

Microbiology is the branch of science that studies microorganisms and their relationships with their environment. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms are among its main areas of study.

In the Microbiology Workshop, children learn about the basic characteristics of microorganisms, their place in our lives and how they are studied in scientific research through age-appropriate activities. Microscope use and observation activities aim to develop scientific curiosity and research skills.

ASTRONOMY

In the Astronomy Workshop, students gain basic knowledge about the Sun, planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial bodies.

Topics such as the structure and energy production of the Sun, the formation of the Solar System, the characteristics of planets, the formation and life cycles of stars, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes and supernovae are addressed in an age-appropriate manner.

Observation activities are carried out using telescopes and astronomical visuals, supporting students in transforming their curiosity about the universe into scientific questions.

RHYTHM AND MUSIC

The Rhythm and Music Workshop aims to develop children's basic musical knowledge, sense of rhythm and instrument-playing skills.

Children are introduced to metallophones, xylophones and various percussion instruments and take part in activities involving repeating given rhythms, creating new rhythms and making music as a group. The workshop aims to support musical appreciation, aesthetic sensitivity, attention and psychomotor development.

MIND AND INTELLIGENCE GAMES

The Mind and Intelligence Games Workshop supports thinking skills such as following and creating instructions, identifying similarities and differences, classifying, sequencing, making inferences, problem-solving, evaluating, planning and developing strategies.

Using tangrams, Sudoku and various board, paper-and-pencil and digital games, the workshop enables students to learn through active experience. Games are used to support skills such as patience, decision-making, perseverance and developing alternative solutions.

STEM

STEM is an educational approach that integrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics through interdisciplinary and applied learning.

In the STEM Workshop, students are supported in conducting research based on real-life problems, developing designs, generating alternative solutions and testing the products they create. The activities aim to develop critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration and communication skills.

YOGA

The Yoga Workshop consists of age-appropriate activities designed to develop children's body awareness and introduce them to movement and breathing practices.

Through basic yoga movements, breathing and attention exercises, children are supported in getting to know their bodies, developing balance and coordination, and expressing themselves.

GO AND CHESS

Go and chess are long-established strategy games that support strategic thinking, planning and decision-making skills.

In the Go Workshop, children learn the basic rules of the game, develop different strategies, and use attention and planning skills. In chess activities, children are supported in considering moves in advance, comparing alternatives and observing the consequences of their decisions.

Both games aim to develop patience, attention, problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.

ELECTRONICS-FOCUSED ROBOTICS

The Electronics-Focused Robotics Workshop aims to help students learn about the electronic and mechanical components of robots, understand basic operating principles and use this knowledge in hands-on projects.

Children examine the parts, uses and programming processes of robots and explore the relationship among technology, engineering and programming through activities involving different electronic components. In this way, scientific process, problem-solving, creativity and design skills are supported.

TRACES OF HISTORY

The Traces of History Workshop aims to help children evaluate past events in terms of cause-and-effect relationships and develop historical thinking skills.

The workshop addresses a wide range of historical topics, from the earliest human communities to the establishment of states, from the development of agriculture to the invention of writing and the emergence of different civilizations. By connecting current events with the past, children are supported in evaluating historical events from different perspectives.

MATHEMATICS THROUGH GAMES

The Mathematics Through Games Workshop aims to help children discover mathematical concepts through enjoyable and hands-on activities.

Through real-life problems and games, students develop mathematical modeling, problem-solving and reasoning skills, as well as the ability to develop alternative solutions. The workshop aims to increase interest in mathematics and connect mathematical thinking with everyday life.

LIFE SKILLS AND AWARENESS

The Life Skills and Awareness Workshop aims to support children in getting to know themselves better, recognizing their strengths and setting age-appropriate goals.

The workshop focuses on life skills such as self-awareness, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, goal setting and taking responsibility. Through hands-on activities, children are supported in reflecting on their thoughts and behaviors and developing skills they can use in daily life.

CREATIVITY

Creative thinking is an important skill that supports approaching problems from different perspectives and developing original solutions.

The Creativity Workshop helps children develop fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration in creative thinking. Techniques such as brainstorming, reverse brainstorming, SCAMPER, attribute listing, analogy and creative problem solving are used to encourage children to generate different ideas and develop original products.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology is the branch of science that studies the lives of past societies through material remains. Archaeological studies help establish connections between the past and the present and contribute to understanding different cultures.

In the Archaeology Workshop, students learn basic archaeological concepts, excavation processes and how archaeological finds are examined. Hands-on excavation and design activities aim to increase children's interest in history, culture and archaeology and develop observation and research skills.